• HE Smith Eastern White Pine Shavings
Judging Contest – April 2026
Sawtooth Supplements

Class 3 – Chester Barrows

Placing
1|3|4|2
Cuts
6|2|3

Starting the class
Chester barrows can always be challenging, especially when working with a picture class. The crew at The Pig Plant did a great job of assembling a class with some logic! With that being said I think it’s pretty easy to find that 1 barrow. Dense, proportional barrows that have the right kind of shape and stoutness never go out of style. Yet where that particular barrow sets himself apart is his ability to read like he’ll drive out with plenty of comfort. A nice way to start, if you didn’t do that we cut you 6.

Sorting the middle pair
I thought there was some discussion to be had in middle. Two barrows that represent different kinds and surely can get placed either way. Personally for me the bigger footed, highly presented 3 barrow’s freshness and proportions gave him the simple advantage in an intermediate decision. I totally get it if you stitched the pair tho because that big forearmed 4 barrow’s the stouter skulled option that reads to work more shape out of the back side of his blade. It’s at the same time where I read that barrow to be the furthest along in terms of maturity, the plainer looking, long bodied barrow didn’t hit me as hard from the side not to mention he looks a little strait out of his hock. You can switch that pair tho, we only cut you 2 in middle.

Bottom of the class
I think more times than not the 2 barrow is going to find himself a home in 4th. While he’s got some muscle, width and freshness, he’s also the frailest skulled, small footed barrow that reads as if he gets all too strait off of either end. We felt nice and only cut it 3.